Syrian rights activists say more than 40,000 people have been killed in Syria since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began in March of last year.
The told VOA Thursday the death toll includes about 28,000 civilians and rebel fighters. It also includes more than 10,000 Syrian soldiers, nearly 1,400 defectors and about 600 unidentified people.
Meanwhile, Syrian rebels say they have captured an army base in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor.
Rebels and Syrian rights activists say the Mayadeen military base and the surrounding countryside are under rebel control Thursday after days of fighting.
The news to the east comes as activists say Syrian warplanes destroyed a building next to a field hospital in the northern city of Aleppo, killing and injuring more than a dozen people. Images showed the building was reduced to a mountain of rubble Wednesday night.